10 Businesses That Benefit From Walkie Talkies

Walkie talkies, or two-way radios, are no longer only meant for military and police use. Their usefulness and versatility has made them indispensable in a number of business environments, with units available that are handheld or built into vehicles. Although walkie talkies have a limited range, they are free to use and, as a result, cheaper to run than cell phones. Once handsets have been bought and paid for there are no monthly call charges. They are simple and easy to use, with most models featuring a push-to-talk button that allows the user to send messages, and a speaker to relay messages back to the user.

In general, a wide variety of businesses benefit from the use of walkie talkies. They are often used to enhance businesses’ health and safety practices, as public address (PA) systems, and to keep employees informed of urgent information throughout the course of the day. A discussion of 10 businesses that benefit from the use of walkie talkies follows. The benefits to these businesses may be similar to those of a wide range of other enterprises, and one can gain a clear idea of overlapping advantages for one’s own business. Two-way radios can be purchased online or from radio handset dealers.

1. Event Organizers and Convention Center Management

Special events and conventions are usually thronged with attendees and staff. The ability to find one’s staff or key contractors is crucial when organizing large events. For example, chairs can be rearranged or set up in a matter of minutes, or problems with the food delivery or service cleared up in a few moments. Better communication means fewer glitches. In addition, one can contact security or emergency services without any hassle when it is urgent, ensuring the safety and comfort of one’s staff and visitors. People will notice a well-organized event, and managing to present one with few hitches will lead to an increase in business through a well-deserved good reputation.

2. Farms

Farms of any size will benefit from two-way radios. Rural areas often have cellular dead spots where cell phones simply do not work as there is no coverage. In addition to this, workers are spread over a wide area, with teams or individuals attending to different tasks throughout the day. Using two-way radios means that workers can ask for help if they need it and everyone knows who is where and doing what. If a worker in a remote location finds an injured animal, help can be summoned quickly, without the worker needing to return to his or her base or to an area with cell phone reception. In addition, farming equipment is dangerous and can cause serious injuries that, if left untreated, could result in death. Carrying a walkie talkie means that one can shout for help in an emergency, even when working alone.

3. Hotels

A hotel requires a large staff for effective day-to-day operation and happy guests. Two-way radios can be used by just about the entire staff, from those performing reception duties to concierges, bell staff, and the security team. As with events management, the hospitality industry relies on effective communication to ensure that plans work out with a minimum of problems. If more discreet communications are required, staff can be equipped with headsets or earpieces.

4. Construction and Related Trades

On a construction site, walkie talkies are essential to inform a large number of people of crucial information immediately. In some cases, this can save lives. In addition, construction sites can be hazardous environments, and a fast response when a worker is injured could save his or her life. Time will also be saved looking for people and tools. Tradesmen on site can communicate with each other about specific jobs, integrating functions more easily.

5. Security

Security teams are only effective if they can communicate with each other without delay. Whether they are patrolling an empty building or working in a crowded shopping mall, guards need to keep in touch with each other for their own safety and to ensure the safety of the persons and property they are protecting. In addition to allowing security staff to keep in touch with each other, walkie talkies allow staff to stay in contact with a base or central office in order to request assistance from emergency personnel or police when needed. One should consider investing in earpieces to keep communication discreet, especially in crowded areas. Security staff that work in plain clothes, like store detectives, will benefit from wireless earpieces and discreet push-to-talk systems.

6. Retail Stores

To keep one’s customers happy one should provide the best customer service in the business. Enabling staff to communicate without leaving the sales floor means that the maximum amount of coverage is available without sacrificing efficient stock levels. Sales staff can contact warehouse staff to replenish stock levels or to swap damaged items with pristine ones. For an added layer of protection, staff can change channels to contact security staff if they observe suspicious behavior, or they can contact a cleaner to quickly clean up spills and remove trip hazards. Although employee turnover is generally high in retail, new staff will learn how to use radios in minutes due to their simple design.

7. Medical Offices

Nurses, doctors, and administrative staff can stay connected via walkie talkie to improve efficiency and eliminate running back and forth between the doctor’s office, the waiting room, treatment rooms, and supply rooms. In addition, clients will have the added peace of mind that a medical emergency will prompt a quick response. To keep client details secure and protect people’s privacy, earpieces or headsets can be used in public areas.

8. Car Dealerships

The success of a car dealership also hinges on customer service and customer satisfaction. People spend substantial amounts of money on new cars, and shoddy service will not inspire them to spend their money at one’s dealership. After all, one wants to be assured of excellent after-sales service when buying a car. If a customer wants to see a specific car in a specific color but that car is buried at the back of the lot, simply let a member of staff know that the car needs to be brought to the display area. Receiving great service will mean that customers gain trust in one’s business, making them more secure in their purchase. Happy customers offer the best form of advertising for one’s business, and excellent communication between staff members is the first step in keeping customers happy.

9. Caterers

While success in the catering industry relies heavily on providing excellent food, it is also affected by one’s customer service. Walkie talkies allow front of house serving staff to alert kitchen staff when food levels are running low, or when it is nearly time to start serving the next course. In addition, kitchen staff will know what is needed in a timely manner, meaning that customers’ needs are met quickly and efficiently. Supervisors can monitor channels to stay aware of issues and concerns as they arise, and resolve them as quickly as possible.

10. Warehouses

Warehouse staff is often loading and unloading vehicles, stacking shelving, retrieving orders, and shipping items or item lots. Because workers are on the move, keeping in touch in the maze of shelves can be a challenge. Good communication and an awareness of staff positions and tasks will help the warehousing operation run smoothly and efficiently, keeping workers productive. In addition, being in touch constantly means that people can ask for help in case of injury or emergency. Working in a warehouse around loading machinery means that workers are more at risk of injury.

Buying Walkie Talkies on eBay

Walkie talkies or two - way radios are listed in eBay’s Electronics department, under Radio Communications. Browse the selection available, using the menus to decrease the number of listings shown. Alternatively, type a keyword in the search box to search for a specific item, and use the advanced search function to narrow or expand your search. Remember to take a look at the listings in eBay Stores for a wider selection.

Meet the Seller

Before you buy on eBay, check out the seller. eBay’s seller feedback scheme is designed to let buyers purchase items with peace of mind. After each transaction is concluded, every buyer is encouraged to leave feedback about their eBay experience, including information about the quality of the products and the seller’s level of service. This information can be found by clicking on the number next to the seller’s user ID, but must be read with the number of sales the seller has completed. Also take the time to check the seller’s preferred payment methods to ensure that you can pay for the item you would like to buy. Never use an instant transfer method like MoneyGram or Western Union to pay someone you do not know. Lastly, check the seller’s terms and conditions of payments. Some offer a money back guarantee or free shipping, while some have returns policies in place like the ones offered by regular retailers. If you have any queries relating to a listing, use the "Ask a Question" link to ask the seller a question.

Conclusion

Walkie talkies will come in handy in any business with a number of employees spread out over a large area. A strong staff needs to stay in touch. Two-way radios are especially convenient in customer service and hazardous environments, or where the staff covers large distances. Two-way radios come in two basic designs, namely portable or handheld, and mobile or in-vehicle. The latter tends to be stronger than the handheld version. Before buying walkie talkies for one’s business one should make sure that one is aware of any FCC licensing requirements, and that the applicable requirements are met

This ebay article shows how versatile the walkie talkie is and how many different types of businesses rely on using this old type of communications for their business to run effectively.